Republicans have tax cuts ready. Democrats won’t pass them.
Families across Allegan, Berrien and Van Buren counties are stretched thin. Groceries, insurance and housing keep climbing, and too many people feel like every raise disappears before it hits the kitchen table. Lansing Democrats talk about affordability. Their record tells a different story.
Last year, House Republicans passed House Bill 4170 to permanently cut Michigan’s income tax from 4.25% to 4.05%, putting about $713 million a year back in taxpayers’ pockets, according to the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency. Seven House Democrats voted yes. Senate Democrats referred that bill to committee and have not moved it since. Senate Republicans also introduced Senate Bill 151 to cut the rate to 3%. It has been stuck in the same Democrat-controlled committee since March 2025.
Republicans filed bills to stop taxing tips and overtime; Democrats left those in committee too. Temporary three-year relief on tips and overtime finally passed, but the permanent rate cut that would help every paycheck still has no hearing.
